Development of a hybrid electric vehicle

This thesis describes the development of a hybrid electric vehicle from concept to completion. The vehicle described is Texas Tech's entry in the 1995 Chrysler Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenge. The mechanical systems' design and modifications to a 1995 Dodge Neon Sedan is presented. The electrical system used to convert the vehicle to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is documented. A design for the HEV system controller is discussed from a hardware and software perspective. A vehicle model developed from known vehicle parameters and dynamic testing is introduced to aid in further optimization of the vehicle. Results of dynamic testing with regards to fuel economy, vehicle range, and emissions productions are presented to illustrate the benefits of operating the vehicle as an HEV. Conclusions and recommendations for future work are discussed.